| | CHAPTER XXIII. OUR JOURNEY TO CHUNIT-TSO. On March 26th, we made 8.3 km. south. The first 5 km., we ascended 330 m. or from 5,026 to 5,356 m., which is the height of the pass, Sangchen-la. The ascent was rather steep or as i : i 5. On the southern side of the range we marched 3.3 km. to Camp CCCLXIV, where the absolute altitude was 4,946 m., thus being a descent of 410 m. or at a rate of i : 8, which was the steepest slope we had experienced. These figures prove that the range we crossed in Sangchen-la was very sharply marked and had unusually steep gradients both to the north and to the south. After a temperature of —17.7° in the night, we had a S. E. breeze in the morning and then a S. W. breeze. The day was nearly clear. Just south of the camp, we crossed an erosion-bed containing ice from a spring, after which the path took us across slopes and up through valleys to the one coming from the pass. The latter is double, both of about the same height. The view from the second one was not encouraging. To the south we had a confusion of considerable mountains, and deep below our feet was a valley stretching east and west. One of my men, who ascended a hill above the pass, reported the existence of a lake to the S. E. To the N. 6o° E. the highest peak of Sha-kangsliam is visible above all other mountains on this side of and beyond it, and the whole series of magnificent peaks belonging to its range are to be seen in all their beauty. One of them, in the shape of a white pyramid, raises its head to the N. 81° E. Not a cloud conceals this beautiful and imposing view. Unfortunately I was in disguise and observed by Tibetans and, therefore, was unable to sketch a panorama. S. i 9° W. a snow peak is in sight, probably belonging to the range of Lunkar-gangri. On the pass the living rock was light grey quartzitic schist, the same as at Camp CCCLXIII, though there it was darker. North of the pass we had seen a little herd of Gazella antelopes. The Pantholops antelopes were now very rare. Near the pass we saw a herd of five Ovis ammon. The slope down is very steep amongst sharp-edged gravel. Finally it becomes more gradual and goes over into the upper part of a valley where there was a tent | | | |
IIIFカラー高解像度
